It’s Tales Time again and this year is the 10th anniversary! This year I decided to bump it up a notch and create a Google Map for you. TECH STUFF: The best way I’ve found to add the Google Map to your mobile device is 1) Email the link to your mobile device. 2) Click the link to open it in your browser. 3) Save it on your home screen or as a bookmark it in your browser. 4) You’ll need to be signed in to your Google account. To get the link just click on the banner below. The short link is http://www.goo.gl/maps/ha1k

Here are some basic navigation instructions once you open the link on your Apple mobile device.

BASIC NOLA INFORMATION
• The French Quarter (Vieux Carré [VEWV- ca-REH]/Old Square) is only 6 X 12 blocks. It was the very first part of land built upon in the 1700s. Since then, there have been two fires (1788 and 1794). In the late 1800s the street numbers changed, which makes it challenging when doing research.

• There are four streets that border the French Quarter: Canal, Rampart, Esplanade, and Decatur.

– Cross over Esplanade and you enter the Marigny Triangle and the best place to visit here is Frenchman Street. This is where the local cool kids live, drink, eat, and party. The best way to get there is a cab, pedicab, or walk East on Decatur.

– Cross over Canal and you’ll enter a business type atmosphere.

– Cross over Rampart and well, DO NOT cross over Rampart on foot at night. Only go as far as Bar Tonique.

– Cross over Decatur, keep walking, and you’ll end up in the Mississippi River

– When you cross over Canal from the French Quarter the street names change:
Decatur to Magazine
Chartres to Camp
Royal to St. Charles
Bourbon to Carondolet
Dauphine to Baronne
Burgundy to University Place
North Rampart to South Rampart

• All the streets in the French Quarter are one-way, so is no need to constantly look for one-way signs when crossing a street. Just look to see which way the cars are faced. And please, I’m asking you kindly, please don’t get to a corner and stop…walk like a local and keep going. The cars are going very slow and will stop for you. If you really want to walk like a local then walk in the street alongside the parked cars.

• The sidewalks in the French Quarter are very uneven and full of holes. The best shoes to wear should have a flat sole. Heels on women are dangerous. Wedges work well. Also, the streets are very dirty, so if you wear open toed shoes, then expect to wash your feet often.

• Cabs and pedicabs are very easy to hire. They roam the French Quarter streets constantly looking for business. You will need cash for the pedicabs and if you’re going to use a credit card for a cab then ask first.

• Come to my Sunday Night Chilled French Quarter Balcony Party – Sunday the 29th
Tales is over, you’re hungover, you sleep in, get some dinner, and think to yourself, “I’m feeling better, what is there to do?” This is why you are officially invited to my low-key chilled party on my French Quarter balconies. When? 10pm – 6am. Cocktail legend, Paul Harrington will be making DRY FLY Vespers, DRY FLY Jasmines, and DRY FLY Harringtons from 10 pm – 1am.
I will also have a “Make Your Own S’mores & Jiffy Pop Fire Bar” set up at my kitchen gas stove.
Just yell up and I’ll drop the gate key in a basket. The address is 928 Conti (less than two blocks from Bourbon). It’s on the google map. I would love to see you!

• Buy a NOLA Drink Deck!
This is a deck of cards with discounts for NOLA bars . Each card gets you a varied amount of discounts. Don’t want to carry around a deck of cards? Then buy the mobile version.

• Miss Trivia

Download my drink trivia App, Miss Trivia for only 99 cents and have fun playing while in Nola. My app has 5000 questions, five categories, and three difficulty levels.

• Canal Street Ferry

Ride the Canal Street Ferry for free to Algiers Point and see the New Orleans skyline. The ferry runs every day from 6:00 am – 12:15 am, and departs from the New Orleans side at :15 and :45 past the hour. You can board the ferry at the foot of Canal Street – right next to the Aquarium. It departs from the other side on the hour and :30 past the hour. My suggestion is to just enjoy the ride and view by riding the ferry over, stay on the ferry, and ride back. There’s not much to see on the other side at Algiers Point (at least from what from that I saw).

• Take a Photo of a Celebrity HouseOn the Google Map I put gold stars to the celebrity homes of Kenny Kravitz, Brad & Angelina, Nicholas Cage, and Sandra Bullock.

• Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras MuseumUpstairs above the French 75 Bar there is a free museum that brings together more than two dozen lavish Mardi Gras costumes. Just ask the bartender about it.

• Antione’s TourIf you go to Antoine’s (713 St. Louis Street) and ask for a tour of their 160 year old restaurant then they will grant you this wish for free.

• Café du Monde BeignetsYou can see beignets being made through the kitchen window at Café Du Monde in Dutch Alley.

• Ride a Nola Streetcar
The streetcars cost $1.25 (have some quarters on you) or you can buy an all day pass for $3. I highly recommend seeing St. Charles Street. St. Charles Street is where many of the Mardi Gras parades travel and where you’ll see the historic homes near the French Quarter. The streetcar will stop at the end then you get out and get on a returning streetcar. It will take 30 minutes one-way.

Well, that’s enough information to point you in the right direction.

Cheers!
Cheryl Charming aka Miss Charming™

P.S. If you have any questions while in New Olreans, then just text me @ 407.924.6234. Oh! also, me and Bruce Tomlinson are hosting a “Honoring the Dead Cocktail Tour.” Space is limited to 24 people, but if you want me to put you on the cancellation list then just Facebook Email me. Transportation, Henry and Joseph’s famous cocktails served in real glass, flowers, water, high-quality camera, and some extra fun surprises are provided. And it’s free!